Travel is not a luxury; Travel is a requirement for a meaningful life

I just got back from a great 2 week trip to southeast Asia.  I was in Malaysia and Philippines working with my partners in my business.  Every time I travel, I come back home with memories and experiences that I will remember forever.

1st stop: Kuala Lumpur!

Manila: Simon Chan Fan Appreciation Dinner

Ice Casasola at SMX Awards Recognition

I love Ice… he is always… ALWAYS putting on a show!

Back to Malaysia – A Special Chinese New Year Dinner!

This was our Chinese New Year crew:

TRAVEL CREATES MEMORIES

Like many people, I used to think of travel as a luxury and something that you get to do if you are fortunate and lucky.  However, the more I travel and the more memories are created, my perspective towards travel has started to change.

It all goes back to how you define what a “meaningful” life is and if life is about experiences and memories, then travel is no longer a luxury; instead it should be considered mandatory and a requirement to live a meaningful life.

It is only through travel that you get to see things you can never see at home; to meet new friends that you would never have met; to learn new cultures and to taste new foods.  It also gives you an entirely new perspective on your current situation at home.  In other words, travel not only creates memories but it gives you more wisdom!

Once my son Ethan grows up, I plan to take him on my trips to Asia so that he does not grow up sheltered in the American culture.  I want him to experience as many different things as possible and to learn to keep an open mind.

Travel does not mean you have to fly across the globe, it could simply mean travel locally to another city that you have never been to.  It can be as easy as a 2 hour driving distance as long as it is a place that you have never been to.  If you live in a big city, go visit a small town. If you live in a small town, go visit and spend a few days in the big city. Just go somewhere new!

Even if your budget is tight and you don’t have money, I believe you can find ways to save and come up with the money to travel.

Here is an idea: if you don’t have the funds to travel, go sell your TV.  You will create your lasting memories on your next travel trip than your TV.  Come to think of it, if you ask anyone their top 10 memories in their lives, I’m sure none of the top 10 involve the TV!  The memories that we die with always involve us doing something with our families and loved ones and never involves the TV.

So think of where you want to travel this year and who will you be going with?

Go somewhere new and enrich your life!